great set for sure... I'm fairly positive they cut approx 3 songs. During their set, a few times the cameras recording the show/putting it on the big screens panned over to brooks from behind and you could see his setlist, Infected definitely had at least 3 more songs after it before Sorrow. Still a great time though despite the rainy weather

My phone was being lame when I got to the Mall, and I didn't get
Torbar's text until I was leaving. I was in the pit for most of the
songs, or right next to the pit. Not sure how many BRpagers I'd
recognize, but I thnk I'd recognize torbar at least. Anyway, I didn't
find you guys :( But my brother and I had a great time. In the pit, I
fell against some guy standing on the edge of it and knocked him
unconscious for a minute! (The side of my skull behind my ear where it's
very thick hit his forehead, so I barely felt anything). I felt really
bad about that, but I stayed with him and a medic came and checked him
and he was okay. I think that's my first time knocking someone out at a
BR show. I have been kicked in the head pretty good by crowd surfers
though.

The acoustics were surprisingly good, all things considered. I loved
seeing the Washington Monument in the background. I will post some brief
videos I made from my phone later (so sound quality in the video will
suck, but hey... at least you'll see the pit).

Don't know why Greg never spoke... seems like he should have spoke
before their set, really, if he wanted to be heard by anyone who wasn't
just sticking around to see BR play anyway. Overall, while the rain
didn't help, I thought the Reason Rally was fairly successful in terms
of turnout. But I don't think the organizers were very good at creating a
coherent message and getting their speakers to stay on that message. I
felt like some of the speakers were too vitriolic. Also, while I love
Jamie Kilstein and think his comedy is fun to listen to in certain
setting, I think it was a particularly poor choice for the Reason Rally.
His loud, over-the-top vulgarity just was everything I didn't want this
rally to be. There's going to be TONS of fodder for people who hate
atheists to put in their "greatest hits" video compilations of the
Reason Rally to make us sound like crass, amoral, fanatical people who
you should never let go near your children.

Oh, and given the focus on America's constitution, wouldn't it have been
prudent to fly an American flag SOMEWHERE near the stage? I don't think
I saw one anywhere. Big PR fail.

It's strange that the lead singer of a punk rock band whose logo is the
crossbuster is more nuanced and tolerant and peaceful of an atheist
speaker than many of the others at the Reason Rally. However, that said,
there were a few speakers in particular who really made the event shine
and it was great to hear them. Richard Dawkins was as usual his
pleasant grandfatherly self. Eddie Izzard did a fantastic comedy set
that made me forget I was standing in the cold rain and just laugh for a
while.

Todd Stiefel of the Stiefel Freethought Foundation, the last scheduled
speaker (besides Graffin), gave a really inspiring speech. His words
exemplified what I think this movement should be about. He is married to
a Christian woman and pointed out that so many of our values (except
for not believing in God obviously) can be shared by religious people
too. Secular society is the goal we're striving for; we're not
demanding that everyone give up their religious beliefs. We just need
to make our collective decisions as a society based on ways of finding
the truth that we can all agree on (science, logic, reason), and we need
to ensure equal rights for everyone regardless of their race, sex,
gender, or sexual preference.

Well, there's my rant. I just woke up so I probably am leaving out some
things. All in all, I give the Reason Rally a B-. Definitely has some
room for improvement, but I like the concept and it was inspiring to see
how many people showed up and stayed until the end in the miserable
cold rain. And capping it off with a Bad Religion set? Très bien!

“As stupid and vicious as men are, this is a lovely day.” ― Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle

Greg: "How many of you have seen enough professors and academics speaking today? Unfortunately you've got to stick through one more 'cause I'm afraid I fit in that bill as well."Jay: "There's a doctor in the house."Greg: "Today we're full of them, but like my son once said 'not the kind that can help anyone.'"

However, that said,
there were a few speakers in particular who really made the event shine
and it was great to hear them. Richard Dawkins was as usual his
pleasant grandfatherly self.

I've heard Dawkins name over and over and have been aware of him for years. Watching a live stream of his speech was the first attention I have given him. While I can't contend to his "usual" self, I can say that there was a portion of his speech that was pretty harsh. Rather unpleasant. . .

Dawkins said to "ridicule and mock" people for their religious beliefs. He used an example of asking a Catholic (in a mocking manner) if he/she truly believes that the cracker/bread/whatever actually turns into the body of Christ. At first, I was all for mocking & ridicule, laughing along with the crowd, but in reality now I can't imagine doing that to anyone I know. I'd have to meet my victims on a bus or something, and never see them again.

Just because he was pleasant in his delivery, it doesn't make what he was actually suggesting very pleasant at all.

Well, it all depends on how you interpret his idea of mocking. I've seen Dawkins actually confront religious people about their beliefs, and he's nowhere near as mean-spirited about it as his use of the terms "ridicule and mock" suggest. I think he is probably using poor words for what he's really suggesting that people do.

“As stupid and vicious as men are, this is a lovely day.” ― Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle

I was standing near that pit, the right side of the stage. The performance was excellent and spot on, I was also impressed that they played the Answer and Electric Dreams. I have seen them before in the midst of a tour when they are tired and not playing as well, which is a major letdown. But this time they had great energy overall and I was very happy. Except for the fact I am probably going to get pneumonia from standing in the rain for a few hours.

Also, the sound was very good--having the screens up was also a plus. The last time I saw them was with Rise Against and it totally sucked because the kids weren't really there to see them and the sound man did a horrible job. So yes, awesome day. Then I hopped in a cab and went and saw the Dropkicks for a little while, left before the end of their set. Lots of young drunk chicks at the Shamrock Fest at RFK Stadium.

Well, it all depends on how you interpret his idea of mocking. I've seen Dawkins actually confront religious people about their beliefs, and he's nowhere near as mean-spirited about it as his use of the terms "ridicule and mock" suggest. I think he is probably using poor words for what he's really suggesting that people do.

My phone was being lame when I got to the Mall, and I didn't get
Torbar's text until I was leaving. I was in the pit for most of the
songs, or right next to the pit. Not sure how many BRpagers I'd
recognize, but I thnk I'd recognize torbar at least. Anyway, I didn't
find you guys :( But my brother and I had a great time. In the pit, I
fell against some guy standing on the edge of it and knocked him
unconscious for a minute! (The side of my skull behind my ear where it's
very thick hit his forehead, so I barely felt anything). I felt really
bad about that, but I stayed with him and a medic came and checked him
and he was okay. I think that's my first time knocking someone out at a
BR show. I have been kicked in the head pretty good by crowd surfers
though.

The acoustics were surprisingly good, all things considered. I loved
seeing the Washington Monument in the background. I will post some brief
videos I made from my phone later (so sound quality in the video will
suck, but hey... at least you'll see the pit).

Don't know why Greg never spoke... seems like he should have spoke
before their set, really, if he wanted to be heard by anyone who wasn't
just sticking around to see BR play anyway. Overall, while the rain
didn't help, I thought the Reason Rally was fairly successful in terms
of turnout. But I don't think the organizers were very good at creating a
coherent message and getting their speakers to stay on that message. I
felt like some of the speakers were too vitriolic. Also, while I love
Jamie Kilstein and think his comedy is fun to listen to in certain
setting, I think it was a particularly poor choice for the Reason Rally.
His loud, over-the-top vulgarity just was everything I didn't want this
rally to be. There's going to be TONS of fodder for people who hate
atheists to put in their "greatest hits" video compilations of the
Reason Rally to make us sound like crass, amoral, fanatical people who
you should never let go near your children.

Oh, and given the focus on America's constitution, wouldn't it have been
prudent to fly an American flag SOMEWHERE near the stage? I don't think
I saw one anywhere. Big PR fail.

It's strange that the lead singer of a punk rock band whose logo is the
crossbuster is more nuanced and tolerant and peaceful of an atheist
speaker than many of the others at the Reason Rally. However, that said,
there were a few speakers in particular who really made the event shine
and it was great to hear them. Richard Dawkins was as usual his
pleasant grandfatherly self. Eddie Izzard did a fantastic comedy set
that made me forget I was standing in the cold rain and just laugh for a
while.

Todd Stiefel of the Stiefel Freethought Foundation, the last scheduled
speaker (besides Graffin), gave a really inspiring speech. His words
exemplified what I think this movement should be about. He is married to
a Christian woman and pointed out that so many of our values (except
for not believing in God obviously) can be shared by religious people
too. Secular society is the goal we're striving for; we're not
demanding that everyone give up their religious beliefs. We just need
to make our collective decisions as a society based on ways of finding
the truth that we can all agree on (science, logic, reason), and we need
to ensure equal rights for everyone regardless of their race, sex,
gender, or sexual preference.

Well, there's my rant. I just woke up so I probably am leaving out some
things. All in all, I give the Reason Rally a B-. Definitely has some
room for improvement, but I like the concept and it was inspiring to see
how many people showed up and stayed until the end in the miserable
cold rain. And capping it off with a Bad Religion set? Très bien!

Good review. Thanks for posting it. I really wish I had the money to go. :/

Greg: "How many of you have seen enough professors and academics speaking today? Unfortunately you've got to stick through one more 'cause I'm afraid I fit in that bill as well."Jay: "There's a doctor in the house."Greg: "Today we're full of them, but like my son once said 'not the kind that can help anyone.'"

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